Golfer{40 s head movement reminder device

ABSTRACT

A head reminder device for a golfer in which a vertically adjustable stand is provided as having a horizontal member thereon extending toward the golfer, and an L-shaped head plate is removably mounted at the free end of the horizontal member to serve as a reminder for a right-handed golfer as he practices his golf swing that his head has moved excessively upwardly or to the right during his swing. The head plate is also adaptable for similarly reminding a left-handed golfer of his head moving excessively upwardly or to the left during his swing.

United States Patent n 1 Taylor 1 Jan. 23, 1973 [5 1 GOLFERS HEAD MOVEMENT 3,198,465 8/1965 Sutton ..24s/125 x REMINDER DEVICE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [76] Inventor: James A. Taylor, 1405 Cardinal r Place Greensboro 27408 259,68l 1/1965 Australia ..273/190R [22] Filed: June 21, 1971 Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo [21] b 154 918 Att0rney--Watson, Cole, Grindle & Watson [57] ABSTRACT A head reminder device for a golfer in which a 190 cally adjustable stand is provided as having a horizon- 1 2 5; 300 tal member thereon extending toward the golfer, and l an L-shaped head plate is removably mounted at the 81 free end of the horizontal member to serve as a re- 1 minder for a right-handed golfer as he practices his [56] Reerences cued golf swing that his head has moved excessively up- UNITED STATES PATENTS wardly or to the right during his swing. The head plate 7 V is also adaptable for similarly reminding a left-handed 554,66] 2/1896 Doolittle ..248Il24 X golfer of his head moving excessively upwardly or to 1,399,761 l2/l92l Garland i ..273/19O R the l ft d ing hi i g 3,350,l02 I0/l967 Tiernan ....273/l90 R 2,659,603 1 111953 Glasser ..248/287 X 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 GOLFERS HEAD MOVEMENT REMINDER DEVICE This invention relates generally to a device for reminding the golfer to maintain his head in a correct position while practicing his golf swing and, more parti'cularly, to such adevice which quickly and effectively serves to remind the golfer that his head has moved excessively upwardly or in a left or right direction, de-

pending on whether he is right or left-handed, while practicins his golf swing.

A smooth, powerful golf swing is largely dependent on the golfers ability to move neither to his right (for a right-handed golfer) during his back swing, nor to suddenly move his head upwardly as the golf club reaches the bottom of his swing as it makes contact with the ball. A means has been therefore devised to allow such a golfer to practice his golf swing with the assistance of ahead reminder which will immediately alert him when his head moves to the right during his back swing in a body sway rather than in a true pivot, and to further re-- mind him when his head moves upwardly as his head is undesirably raisedto follow the course of the ball. The head reminder is also adaptable for reminding a lefthanded golfer that he has moved his head upwardly as well as excessively to the left during his back swing.

, It is therefore the principal object of the present in? vention to provide a golfer's head reminder device to assist the golfer in maintaining his head steadily in one position during the practice exercise for his golf swing.

Another object of the present invention is toprovide such a device wherein ahead member is removably mounted on the horizontal rod of a vertically adjustable stand, the head member being so disposed as to lie near one side of the golfers head and slightly above his head so as to remind the golfer that his head has moved excessively upwardly and. to the right or left (forrighthanded or left-handed golfers) in the process of his practice golf swing.

FIG. I is an elevational view showingthe head reminder device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but on a slightly enlarged scale aitdshowing a slightly modified stand for the device; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the head member in its relation to a horizontal rod member of thestand.

Turning now to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown the golfer's head reminder device referred to generally as 10 and comprising a ground plate member 11 resting on the top surface of the ground G and having fixedly secured thereto in any conventional manner a hollow vertical tube 12 which, in FIG. 1, is simply fitted over an upstanding stud member 13 on the plate 11, and in A further object of this invention is to provide such a device wherein the headmember comprises a. pair of interconnected plates disposed'at right angles to one another with an open bracket being provided at the interconnection of the plates .50 as to permit the head member to be mounted from either end on thehorizontal rod member to thereby dispose one of. the plates, which is to extend downwardly, on either the right side or themleft side of the golfers head depending on whether he is right-handed or left-handed. 3

A still further object of this invention is to provide such a device whereinthe horizontal rod member is non-circular in cross section and the bracket isalso of secured thereto and another vertical rod slidably disposed within the one vertical rod so asto permit the horizontal rod member, which is attached to the other vertical rod, to be moved toward and away from the ground on which the groundplate rests.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of theinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description ofvtheinvention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 2; is simply fitted over a curved tubing 14 which is designed for additional stability of the device. Another vertical tube 15 is slidably disposed within tube 12 and is vertically adjustable in relation thereto by means of a conventional thumb screw 16. 7

At the free end of vertical rod meinber 15 a horizontal rod member 17 is fixedly secured and extends in a direction toward the golfer, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, depicted in a position at the end of his back swing about to tee off on the golf ball B.

A head member generally designated 18 is removably slid onto the free end of horizontal rod member 17, the head member comprising a horizontal plate '19 interconnected with a vertical plate 21, each of which may be constructed of a thin styrofoam material with the vertical plate 21 having lightening holes 22 therein. Brackets 23 (see FIG. 2) are riveted or areotherwise secured to the plates 19 and 21 of the head member so as to permit it to be conveniently slid on and off the horizontal rod member from either end thereof. Also, it can be seen from FIG; 3 of the drawings that the horizontal rod member 17 is square or otherwise non-circular in cross section and the brackets 23are similarly shaped so as to define with the head member a corresponding non-circular shape thereby preventing the head member from rotating along its axis after it has been mounted in place.

After the head member has been slid onto the horizontal rod member, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the horizontal plate 19 thereof is disposed above horizontal member 17 while the vertical plate 21 thereof is disposed to the right of rod member 17. In using the head reminder device constructed in the manner describedabove, the golfer simply places the ball B on a tee in the normal way between himself and the ground plate member 11 in a manner whereby head member 18 will be directly above his head in his normal position in relation to teeing off on the ball. The height of head member 18 may be adjusted by means of set screw 16 so that the horizontal plate 19 thereof willbe disposed approximately one or two inches above the top of the golfers head. The golfer then positions himself to address the ball so that the head member is approximately an inch or two from the right side of his face and head. The head member is no way interferes with the golfer as he swings his club backward on his backswing. However, if his head moves to the right, either from a shifting of too much weight to the right foot resulting in a body sway to the right, or from a pivotwhich brings his head toward the right, his head will come in contact with the head member 18 thereby immediately making him aware that his head has not remained steady throughout his golf swing. Moreover, if the golfer is apt to suddenly look up as the golf club reaches the bottom of his swing as it makes contact with the ball, the horizontal plate 19 of the head member will engage the top of his head so as to further remind him that his head has moved upwardly. Since no portion of the head reminder lies to the left of his head (i.e., for a right-handed golfer), the golfer is permitted to freely turn his head toward the left to follow the flight of the ball during the follow-through of his golf swing.

For left-handed golfers, the head reminder may be simply slid onto the horizontal rod member 17 from an end opposite from that shown in FIG. 3. In such way the horizontal plate of the head member will remain disposed above the rod member 17 while the vertical plate 21 thereof is now disposed to the left of rod member 17. The left-handed golfer then simply positions himself in the same manner described above for the right-handed golfer except that the vertical plate 21 of the head member will lie about an inch or two from the left side of his face and head.

From the foregoing it can be seen that a simple and inexpensive yet highly effective device is provided for reminding either the right-handed or the left-handed golfer that his head has moved both excessively upwardly or to the right or left, respectively. Since the head member does not grip or restrain the head in any way or cause the head to rest thereon in any manner, any distraction to the golfer while teeing off, as is common to many of the prior art devices, is substantially avoided. The head reminder device in accordance with the present invention is portable and may be used for practice indoors or outdoors and requires only a single adjustment in a vertical direction by means of thums screw 16 for adjustment of the device to the correct height of the individual golfer. The various parts of the device may be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled simply by fitting the part 12 over the part 14 or 13, fitting the part 15 within the part 12, fitting the part 17 within the part 15, and, finally, sliding the head member over the free end of the part l7..The head member 18 is reversible so as to accommodate use by both a right-handed and a left-handed golfer and may be constructed of styrofoam material or other similar soft material so as not to injure the golfer in any way as his head makes contact with either of the plates 19 and 21 thereof.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A golfers head reminder device comprising a vertically adjustable stand, a horizontal rod member secured to said stand and extending outwardly therefrom, and a head member removably mounted at the free end of said rod member, said head member comprising an L-shaped plate, one leg of said plate lying in a horizontal lane on said rod member and the other leg of said pla e lying m a vertical plane and extending downwardly from said one leg, the height of said stand serving to position said one leg slightly above the top of the golfer's head, and so as to position said other leg slightly to one side of the golfers head, whereby said head member serves as a reminder for the golfer that his head has moved excessively upwardly and in a direction transverse to said horizontal rod member during his golf swing as the top portion of the golfers head is contacted by the undersurface said one leg and as a side of the golfers head is contacted by the inner surface said other leg, respectively.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein brackets are provided at the inner corner of said head member to facilitate mounting from either end thereof on said rod member whereby said other leg may be disposed along either side of said rod member to accommodate both right-handed and left-handed golfers.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein said horizontal rod member is non-circular in cross-section and wherein said brackets each define a corresponding non-circular section with said head member thereby preventing any turning movement of said mounted head member along its axis.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein said stand comprises a ground plate, a first vertical rod fixedly secured at one end thereto, and a second vertical rod slidably disposed with respect to said first rod.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein means are provided for adjusting said second rod with respect to said first rod and wherein said horizontal member is mounted on said second vertical rod. 

1. A golfer''s head reminder device comprising a vertically adjustable stand, a horizontal rod member secured to said stand and extending outwardly therefrom, and a head member removably mounted at the free end of said rod member, said head member comprising an L-shaped plate, one leg of said plate lying in a horizontal plane on said rod member and the other leg of said plate lying in a vertical plane and extending downwardly from said one leg, the height of said stand serving to position said one leg slightly above the top of the golfer''s head, and so as to position said other leg slightly to one side of the golfer''s head, whereby said head member serves as a reminder for the golfer that his head has moved excessively upwardly and in a direction transverse to said horizontal rod member during his golf swing as the top portion of the golfer''s head is contacted by the undersurface said one leg and as a side of the golfer''s head is contacted by the inner surface said other leg, respectively.
 2. The device according to claim 1 wherein brackets are provided at the inner corner of saId head member to facilitate mounting from either end thereof on said rod member whereby said other leg may be disposed along either side of said rod member to accommodate both right-handed and left-handed golfers.
 3. The device according to claim 2 wherein said horizontal rod member is non-circular in cross-section and wherein said brackets each define a corresponding non-circular section with said head member thereby preventing any turning movement of said mounted head member along its axis.
 4. The device according to claim 3 wherein said stand comprises a ground plate, a first vertical rod fixedly secured at one end thereto, and a second vertical rod slidably disposed with respect to said first rod.
 5. The device according to claim 4 wherein means are provided for adjusting said second rod with respect to said first rod and wherein said horizontal member is mounted on said second vertical rod. 